Travelogue

Sunken GardenAs I mentioned in the previous stop, we had a whole afternoon to devote to visiting the highly-acclaimed Butchart Gardens, because our ferry back to the U.S. didn’t leave until 7:30 in the evening.

The Butchart Gardens are not in the city of Victoria, as I originally thought, but a half hour north in the town of Brentwood.

Butchart Gardens has a fascinating history. It all began in 1902 , when Robert and Jennie Butchard moved to Vancouver Island to build a cement plant on a rich limestone deposit at Tod Inlet.

Sunken GardemWhen the limestone quarry was exhausted, Jennie envisioned creating a grand garden in the depleted quarry. That old quarry is now the Sunken Garden, the most beautiful and popular garden on the property.

Afternoon TeaOver the following decades they continued transforming their property into a botanical garden, traveling extensively throughout the world, collecting rare shrubs, trees, and plants which they transplanted in their gardens. Footpaths, bridges, waterfalls, ponds, and fountains were later added. The gardens now contain over 5,000 varieties of flowers.

Between 1906 and 1929, the Butcharts expanded The Gardens, designing the Japanese Garden on the seaside, the Italian Garden on their former tennis court and the Rose Garden in their old kitchen vegetable garden.

In 1939, the Butcharts gave the Gardens to their grandson Ian Ross on his 21st birthday. Over the next 58 years, he transformed the gardens into a world-renowned attraction, adding outdoor concerts and night lighting in the summers, and the Magic of Christmas in the winters.

It was a real family affair. In 1977 great-grandson Christopher began producing a choreographed firework show every year. In 2009, his sister, and current owner of The Gardens, Robin, added the Children’s Pavilion and Menagerie Carousel.

Italian GardensIn 2004, on the 100th anniversary of the Gardens, two Totem Poles, carved in Classic Coast Salish style by Master Carvers Charles Elliot of the Tsartlip Nation and Doug La Fortune of Tsawout Band, were placed in the Gardens in recognition of the rich cultural heritage provided by Indigenous People.

Today, The Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada. It receives over a million visitors a year.

Ownership of the Gardens remains within the Butchart family. Great-granddaughter Robin-Lee Clarke is the current owner and managing director.

Sturgeon StatueA visit to The Gardens wouldn’t be complete without partaking in Afternoon Tea. We almost blew this though because we didn’t know you should make reservations. But it did work out, and we were able to enjoy an indulgent variety of English trifles, savory sandwiches, fresh scones, and lots of house-made sweets in their lovely dining room. Oh, and of course, tea.

Afternoon Tea Menu

Our plan all along was have our ample Amethyst Inn breakfast and our Afternoon Tea get us through the day, so we wouldn’t need dinner before the ferry. As we expected, there was so much food at the tea that we got a doggy bag to bring on the ferry.

The cost for the Afternoon Tea was $40.95 per person (about $30 U.S.), plus the $39.50 per person Admission to the Gardens (about $29), but it was worth every penny of it.

Then it was back to the Victoria ferry for our return to Port Angeles.

Ross FountainI think everyone on the ferry around us was jealous of our fancy snacks. I think we were the only passengers munching on Raspberry pistachio truffle, Carrot cake, Baked lemon custard, Strawberry mousse, and a Chocolate ganache torte.

Since we were too happy with our stay at the Angeles Motel on the way over, we figured we would try the Super 8 by Wyndham. It was a bit better but still a rip-off at $231, and that’s U.S. dollars.

Oh well, at least it positioned us well for going back into Olympic National Park in the morning to hike Hurricane Ridge.